The actual "sound" was often a byproduct of the technology. Early samplers like the or the Akai MPC60
Funk provided hip hop with its physical momentum. Producers like and The 45 King hunted for records by James Brown , The Meters , and George Clinton to find the perfect "thump." sound_of_hip_hop_old_school_beats_jazz_funk
As the 80s turned into the 90s, the "Native Tongues" collective (, De La Soul ) pivoted toward jazz. This introduced a new emotional palette to the genre. The actual "sound" was often a byproduct of the technology